cliff. it was yet another white house effort to rally support around its approach to the fiscal cliff. joe biden sitting down with seven middle class americans worried about their taxes going up. >> these are hard working, serious americans who are playing by the rules, doing it all right, and struggling already in this economy. >> reporter: jobs numbers, proof the administration says that the president's economic policies are paying off. >> you see it in the retail industry, you see it in transportation. you see it in health care. and you see it in other sectors. you do see a continued movement that continues to show some positive growth. >> reporter: while cautioning the nation's economy is far from a full recovery, administration officials emphasize positive growth, suggesting it puts them in a stronger negotiating position with republicans. one senior administration official told cnn, quote, we shouldn't muck it up by raising taxes on the middle class or playing chicken with the debt cei